Trainer Gary Portelli is concerned the Group One AJC Sires' Produce Stakes could develop into a "leaders' benefit race" and in the process shut down his two-pronged attack of Delago Bolt and Romanus.The Gai Waterhouse-trained pair of Manhattan Rain and New Day Rising are of particular concern to the Warwick Farm horseman ahead of Saturday's 1400-metre feature at Randwick which has a field of nine."The Sires is notorious for small fields and slowly-run races and that proves trouble for my two," P

Trainer Gary Portelli is concerned the Group One AJC Sires' Produce Stakes could develop into a "leaders' benefit race" and in the process shut down his two-pronged attack of Delago Bolt and Romanus.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained pair of Manhattan Rain and New Day Rising are of particular concern to the Warwick Farm horseman ahead of Saturday's 1400-metre feature at Randwick which has a field of nine.

"The Sires is notorious for small fields and slowly-run races and that proves trouble for my two," Portelli said.

"I'm worried horses like Manhattan Rain and the stablemate will get their own way in front and it could turn into a leaders' benefit race."

Delago Bolt comes into the Sires after an unlucky ninth in the Golden Slipper (1200m) on April 4 on a bog track at Rosehill.

"He pulled up enormous and it was as though he never went around," Portelli said.

"At least this week he should get a chance to have a good crack at them on the bigger track.

"He's drawn a tricky gate in seven and never starts well but I'll leave it up to Corey (Brown)."

Two starts back the colt produced a massive run when he came from near last at the turn to beat Phenomenal Lass by 2-1/4 lengths in the Listed Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra.

Beautifully-bred Encosta De Lago colt Romanus made up plenty of ground late when 1-1/4 lengths fourth to Tickets in the Group Two Darley Stakes (1200m) last start.

Romanus, a $500,000 yearling purchase, is out of 2002 Victorian Oaks winner Bulla Borghese and Portelli says he will be at his best in the Group One Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday week.

"Over this trip Delago is the better of the two in normal circumstances but if they walk up front then he might not run Romanus down, it's going to be a tricky race," Portelli said.

Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready is the $3.20 favourite ahead of Tickets and Slipper third placegetter Manhattan Rain at $5.

New Day Rising is a $7 chance with Delago Bolt locked with Victorian Rostova on $8.50 while Romanus is at $18.